TCA: FX’s Vampire Series ‘The Strain’ – A Statement About “Empiricism And Religion” Without Sex

FX’s new vampire series The Strain is a “really original re-imagining of vampire lore” that “says something about the precariousness of our modern world” and also about the intersection of “empiricism and religion,” exec producer Carlton Cuse told TV critics this afternoon.

Then he showed critics a clip from the pilot episode.

“I got a massage just watching that,” Cuse tittered when the gore-tastic clip wrapped. Critics, who looked like the clip had had the same effect on them, were disappointed to learn from Cuse that the vampires of The Strain won’t engage in actual sex. That’s because the particular strain of vampire in Chuck Hogan’s novel trilogy on which the series is based sloughs off genitalia – no use for them.

Cuse, who is exec producing with Guillermo del Toro, explained that “one of the amazing things” about the books is the elaborate biological specificity when it comes to the vampires, including the genitalia thing, the fact that they defecate and eat at the same time, and other fun facts too numerous to mention here, but all of which will be detailed thoroughly in the series – and then some, Cuse promised. “We’ve added a lot of new stuff, gotten deeper into characters, invented new situations. The books are well represented in the show, but the show is a deeper and richer experience,” he said.

FXordered to series the project in November and the first season is expected to premiere in July. Cuse said the series will run three to five seasons but has a pre-determined end, based on the novels. The Strain tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City, investigating a plane that arrives at JFK airport and everyone on it appears to be dead. The plane turns out to be carrying a mysterious cargo which is this strain of vampirism that will spread through New York City and ultimately the world, while the Centers for Disease Control tries its darndest to get things under control.

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While struggling through the first book, I remember thinking that the entire book read like a pitch...

Camus

1 year

I love these entertainment types trying to intellectually justify the crap they make. Let's face it this...

“You’ll never look at vampires the same way,” Cuse told the TV critics at Winter TV Press Tour 2014. “They’re not the sparkling, brooding dudes” with love issues that we’re used to seeing on television, he promised. “They’re scary creatures.” He also promised/threatened the series would be an allegory for “the precariousness of our modern world” and a statement about “empiricism and religion.”

10 Comments

Personally, I’m glad these vampires won’t be having sex. There’s enough of that on The Vampire Diaries and True Blood…

sublimation ftw • on Jan 14, 2014 5:17 pm

I agree, vampires having sex makes me think, so what was the point of bothering with the vampire part…?

Eye-Fi • on Jan 14, 2014 5:17 pm

Cuse, so pretentious, so untalented, so delusional about his worth.

belz • on Jan 14, 2014 5:17 pm

A capital-H Hack.

And a knucklehead. This is the guy who decided, as a member of the WGA’s negotiating committee in 2008, to start negotiating on his own with the DGA, this without informing the rest of his fellow negotiators. Whatever one thinks of the 2008 strike, Cuse’s actions undermined whatever legitimate negotiations were going on between the WGA and the AMPTP.

But, water under the bridge.

adam • on Jan 14, 2014 5:17 pm

An “allegory for the precariousness of our modern world” and a statement about “empiricism and religion”?? Leave it to Carlton Cuse to get all precious about routine genre shows we’ve seen before! It’s about vampires, Carlton! Relax! You’re slumming, we get it!!

Camus • on Jan 14, 2014 5:17 pm

I love these entertainment types trying to intellectually justify the crap they make. Let’s face it this show will be watched by teens while tweeting to their friends about something else…

Maryann • on Jan 14, 2014 5:17 pm

Sounds absolutely gross. There is absolutely nothing here that appeals to me.

doubtful • on Jan 14, 2014 5:17 pm

first two books were very gritty – have not read the third one yet. This is a Walking Dead type of look at vampires – not Twilight/True Blood/whatever show is on CW.

Klaus • on Jan 14, 2014 5:17 pm

While struggling through the first book, I remember thinking that the entire book read like a pitch for a series. One that will just be dreadful if it follows the book…There is a lot of following of glowing vampire urine trails through dark tunnels, the vampires are more like mindless drones to overlords…the entire thing was a convoluted mess. I am a huge Walking Dead and genre fan but the Strain holds zero interest for me.